Olympics: Russia has reason to celebrate after these games

SOCHI, Russia - The Winter Olympics ended peacefully and dramatically on a beautiful early spring evening last night, a welcomed counterpoint to the tension-filled start three weeks ago.

SOCHI, Russia — The Winter Olympics ended peacefully and dramatically on a beautiful early spring evening last night, a welcomed counterpoint to the tension-filled start three weeks ago.

After 17 days of daredevil snowboarders, graceful figure skaters and stamina-defying cross-country skiers giving it their all, Sochi bid adieu in a closing ceremony that offered a salute to Russian culture. And a strong kick to the finish also gave the hosts the top final medal total with 33, with the United States finishing second with 28.

“The games have turned our country, its culture and the people into something that is a lot closer and more appealing and understandable for the rest of the world,” said Dmitry Kozak, Russia’s deputy prime minister.

Despite talk of terrorist threats, anti-gay legislation and unfinished hotels, Sochi organizers pulled it together in the most expensive games in history at an estimated $51 billion. In the end, they rebuilt the Russian Riviera into a modern sea and mountain resort that they hope becomes a major tourist destination.

“It was a race to the finish for Sochi,” said Scott Blackmun, chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “I was here more than a year ago and it is amazing what they have done, not just with the volume of construction. They didn’t spare anything.”

The Netherlands showed the world how to speedskate, winning 23 medals and eight golds — both record totals — over 12 events.

The Americans got very little from some of their biggest names — including snowboarder Shaun White, speedskater Shani Davis and the men’s hockey team — so a group of lesser-known athletes lifted the team.

The U.S. had its best Winter Olympics showing outside North America despite nine fewer medals than in 2010. Speedskating had a disastrous run with only one medal, but the action sports kept America near the top. U.S. athletes won eight of 18 medals in the new freeskiing and snowboarding events.

“If you look at things broadly, the medals are getting spread around more,” Blackmun said. The medal count, he said, “is indicative that things are alive and well in the U.S.”

Teenager Mikaela Shiffrin (gold) and veteran Bode Miller (bronze) buoyed U.S. skiing after a lackluster start, but the men’s hockey team ended with a thud, losing to Finland 5-0 in the bronze-medal game, and the U.S. women’s hockey team’s its heart was broken by Canada in the gold-medal game.